Cornyn Renews Call to Bring Austin Tice Home

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement about Houston-native Austin Tice, a Marine veteran and journalist who was taken captive in Syria six years ago today:

“For the Tice family, the absence of their son and brother has made for an unimaginable and devastating six years,” Sen. Cornyn said. “I’m in awe of their perseverance as they continue their relentless push to bring him home. Today I renew my call for Austin to be released by his captors, and I’m thankful the Trump Administration shares my desire to see him come home as soon as possible.”

Background:

Sen. Cornyn has met with the Tice Family several times since Austin’s capture in August of 2012. Additionally, Sen. Cornyn sent letters to former Secretary of State John Kerry in 2013 and to President Obama in 2014 and 2016 asking that the Administration use all of their resources to locate Austin and keep the Tice family informed of any updates on his whereabouts. Beginning in 2017, Sen. Cornyn has been working with Trump Administration officials on the case.

In 2015, Sen. Cornyn introduced legislation that would establish Interagency Hostage Recovery Coordinator to properly coordinate a unified government response to hostage situations like Austin Tice’s and secure the release of all hostages held by terrorist groups and other bad actors.

Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Judiciary, Intelligence, and Finance Committees.